The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1887-03-17
GOSSIP OF THE CAPITAL.
ALlST OF THE LIVING LADIES OF THE
WHITE HOUSE.

3 "Hho Ahore - oub Oho EA-FFesluong Law
ing, Eleven Ladies' Who Have Presided
Over the Executive Mansion Still Sur.
vive-Other Washington Affairs.
WASHINGTON, March l5.-The recent pres.
ence in Washington at the same time of Mrs.
Julia Dent Grant, widow Of ex-President
Grant, and of Mrs. Cleveland, the present
lady of the White House, and of Miss Cleve-
land the last preceding lady who held that
high position, has suggested that perhaps IL
might be as agreeable to the ladies concerned as
1t certainly would be gratifying to those who
might visit them if all the ladies now living
who have at any time presided at the execu-
tive mansion could assemble at the National
capital and hold reception together at the
White House
Why not have it on the presidents fiftieth
birthdays If they could convene in this way
there should be present.
Mrs, Julia Gardiner Tyler, widow Of Presi-
dent Tyler.
Mrs. Semple, her stepdaughter, now an in
mate of che Louise Home in Washington
city, who during the period between her own
mothers death, about September, 1912, and
the marriage of her father in 1874, was the
head Of his household in the presidents man
sion, a.longer period,than her stepmother held
that place, who was married in June, 1874,
and left the White House with her husband
when his term expired, in March, 1915.
Mrs, James K. Polk, widow of President
Polk, who Immediately succeeded Mrs. Tyler.
Mrs. Harriet Lane johnson, the niece of
President Buchanan, who was for four years
| the mistress of the executive mansion.
Mrs, Patterson, the daughter of President
johnson, who, the wife of the latter being
old and not in very good health, jointly with
her sister, Mrs Slower, now dead, did the
honors of the White house while their father
was president.
Mrs. Julia Dent Grant, sx-Presdent Grants
widow, who lived eight years in the White
House.
Mrs. Rutherford B. Hayes, wife Of ex-
President Hayes, who was there four years.
Mrs. James A. Garfield, widow Of Pres.
dent Garfield, who lived only six months in
the executive mansion.
Mrs, Ellen Arthur McElroy, the late ex.
President Arthur's sister, who was the lady
OF the White House during several months
Of each Of the three years and half while he
was president
Miss Rose Elizabeth Cleveland, who had
the same place for fifteen months.
Mrs. Grover Cleveland.
This would indeed make notable assem-
blage. 1t viii be noted that while there Is
but one ex-president, Mr., Hayes, living,
eleven ladies who have presided over the ex.
ecutive mansion survive
There were four of these lades-the two
last named aud Mrs Grant and Mrs Semple
lin Washington the last week in February,
and Mrs. Grant and Mrs and Miss Cleve-
land spent one evening together in the
White House, the first time the three were
ever together. The meeting was doubtless
most delightful one to all concerned. Mrs.
Grant had great admiration for President
Cleveland before she ever met his wife, and
last summer, when the two ladies Just from
Washington called on her at Long Branch
within two weeks after the presidents mar
riage, she eagerly exclaimed: "Oh, do tell
me all about the White House bride, never
was so interested in anything before in my
life as In his marriage. read everything I
could find in the papers before and after the
wedding about it, and the only fault have
to find about it is that the president did not
sooner let US know positively that he was
going to be married, SO could have enjoyed
1t longer"
She then went on to say how much she ap-
preciated President Cleveland's course
toward her and her late husband, during the
illness of the latter and after his death, and
said that Gen. Grant had often during his
illness spoken feelingly of the presidents at
tentions to him, and had also commended his
conduct as president and said that in many
things the Republicans might learn of him
with profit.